Amazon's new Voyager Kindle is a thinner, lighter version of its Paperwhite

The Kindle, it seems, is not going to die anytime soon. With Amazon pretty much still ruling the ebook space, it makes sense that it will update its standard Kindle if it's already spent money updating its Android Fire tablets.

Just how much can you innovate on a design that's always been kept stark and as simple as the Kindle? The Kindle Voyager looks like it could very well be an update to its popular Paperwhite model.

Lighter, slimmer, shinier

What can you expect from this new model? So far, specs have popped up on both Amazon Germany and Amazon Japan. What is apparent is the device will have a 6-inch 300 ppi resolution screen. For long-time Kindle users, a new feature just might excite - a new page press sensor that will use the bezel to turn pages.

Apparently the Kindle will also have "intelligent front lighting". This is good news for those who had been in the market for a Paperwhite as, from experience, a Kindle without a light to read with in the dark, isn't a lot of fun.

The new Kindle (according to Amazon Japan) will weigh 186g and is as thin as 8mm, a good improvement on the Paperwhite. The latter weighs 222g and is 9.1mm thick, just for your reference.

Pricing? Here's the not-so-great news. The Voyager's pricing is quite a bit more expensive than the Paperwhite, with the Wi-Fi version going for €189 (RM787) and the 3G version selling for €249 (RM1,037). Not cheap at all though perhaps this would mean that older Paperwhites would be cheaper once this launches? We can only hope.